つまみ

つまみ
noun
snack (to go with drinks); knob; pinch
informalfoodtool
1. snack to accompany alcohol; drinking snack
Small dishes or finger food eaten while drinking alcohol. Synonymous with 肴 (さかな) and おつまみ (the polite form). A central concept in Japanese drinking culture.
つまみを注文(ちゅうもん)しよう。
Let's order some snacks.
枝豆(えだまめ)はビールのつまみに最高(さいこう)だ。
Edamame is the perfect snack to go with beer.
居酒屋(いざかや)で飲(の)みながら、いろいろなつまみを楽(たの)しんだ。
We enjoyed various snacks while drinking at the izakaya.
2. knob; dial; handle
A small protruding part that is grasped and turned or pulled, such as a volume knob or lid handle. From the verb つまむ (to pinch, to pick up).
ラジオのつまみを回(まわ)す。
To turn the radio dial.
鍋(なべ)の蓋(ふた)のつまみが熱(あつ)い。
The knob on the pot lid is hot.
音量(おんりょう)のつまみを左(ひだり)に回(まわ)して音(おと)を小(ちい)さくした。
I turned the volume knob to the left to lower the sound.

Usage

The polite form おつまみ is commonly used by customers when ordering. In casual speech, つまみ is standard. Both 酒(さけ)のつまみ and 酒(さけ)の肴(さかな) mean "food to go with drinks," but つまみ is more casual.

Common collocations

  • おつまみ (polite form — used when ordering)
  • 酒(さけ)のつまみ (snack to accompany sake/alcohol)
  • つまみになる (to serve as a drinking snack — also figurative: to become a topic of conversation)
  • つまみを回(まわ)す (to turn a knob)
  • つまみ食(ぐ)い (snacking; picking at food before it's served)

Related Words

Compare: 肴(さかな) (appetizer)
Compare: ダイヤル (dial)
general
Added 2026.3.10 15:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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